6 Signs You Need a New Toilet

By
Crisafulli Brothers Plumbing and Heating
|February 09, 2019

Modern plumbing is one of the most utilized conveniences in the United States. However, we often take the convenience of plumbing essentials, like our toilets, for granted. Our kitchen sink, shower, and toilet, are understated luxuries we don’t even think about using until something goes wrong. We use the restroom, take a hot shower, and wash the dishes without even thinking about all of the plumbing components that are working hard to make these simple amenities possible. And, when any of these plumbing essentials becomes broken or inoperable, especially the toilet, you certainly don’t want to have to deal with the subsequent inconvenience.

As easy as it is to forget about the functionality and maintenance of your toilet, it can be all you think about once it stops working. As with so many things, you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. In order to avoid a fiasco like a nonoperational toilet, make sure you know what signs to look for before your toilet breaks for good.

When it’s time to get a new toilet, you may notice the following clues:

1. Your toilet frequently clogs. A clogged toilet might occur because you tried to flush something too large, but if it the clogs happen frequently, it might indicate a bigger issue. In some cases, this might mean you have a blocked sewer line or a localized clog.

2. It never flushes completely. When your toilet isn’t flushing completely, the flushing mechanism in the toilet might be broken.

3. The water within your toilet bowl doesn’t refill after each flush. When a toilet bowl does not refill with water after it is flushed, it usually means something is going wrong with the valves.

4. Your toilet is cracked. Cracked porcelain can be dangerous because it may cause the toilet to break apart. Or, small fissures may lead to major leaks that cause water damage within your bathroom.

5. You notice water gathering around the toilet base. If you notice water around your toilet, the seal between the toilet and floor may be broken, or the porcelain itself could be cracked. A water leak might also be the result of an overflowing toilet. Whatever the case, it can lead to severe, costly water damage.

6. Your toilet is constantly running. When you hear the sounds of your toilet running nearly all the time, you likely have a broken mechanical part within the toilet, called the flapper.

Dealing with a broken or malfunctioning toilet can be very inconvenient, and might even cause serious plumbing issues. It can be easy to forget about maintaining your toilet, but with how often we use these crucial plumbing components, we should know more about keeping them functional. If you notice something off going on with your toilet, make sure you contact an experienced, skilled plumber.

While it may be tempting to try to solve these issues yourself, do-it-yourself methods can worsen the issue and lead to more damage in the end. Instead, reach out to our professional plumbers at Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing & Heating Contractors, Inc. for help with your toilet concern. We can assess the issue, propose a way to fix it, and perform the necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement in a timely fashion.